Today was my first day of real work and it included a check out dive off the wharf. It was a very long but fun day at work.

Starting at 8am I moved the crane down to the wharf and set it up then moved the workboat alongside it ready to take a scientist out to one of the islands. Then I moved the dive boat into position outside the dive stores with the tractor. We loaded the workboat with the scientist his field assistant (Clive) and all the necessary safety gear including P-rolls, manfood, iridium phone, extra clothing etc. just in case the pack ice closed in with the change of weather during the day and we couldn’t get back to them. We also loaded on Pete and his video camera and still camera.

After dropping the two off at Leonie Island we headed over to the Sheldon Glacier to do some filming stopping along the way to check out the wildlife – arctic terns, crabeater seals, shags, snow petrals, Adelie penguins were all on show! The change in wind direction has driven all the iceburgs and brash ice into Ryder Bay so it is quite slow going moving through the water which is at some points like slurpee.

We got back late for lunch so after stuffing my face quickly I headed down to the dive store to get ready for my check dive. It was a short dive of only 17 minutes as we had to get the scientists out for a dive in the islands in the afternoon. There was quite a bit of sealife lots more than I was expecting and according to my buddy it was in fact denude in comparison to the other dive sites! My fingers within a few minutes of getting in the water were extremely painful from the cold shock it was like daggers in my hands not comfortable at all. The other divers assure me that I will get use to it! It was snowing very slightly when we got out of the water.

After a quick change from my drysuit to my boat immersion suit we were back on the water with the dive team to take over to Troval which is a small island. The team of David and Terri were trying to create a database of Antarctic species and bring back specimens they didn’t know in test tubes. By the time we had packed up it was 7:15 and we were 45 minutes late for dinner.

Dave Barnes the scientist we took diving did the monday night science talk on life beneath the sea in Antarctica it was all very interesting stuff. Which I will write about at some point!

It was also the day that I decided not to take up BAS’s offer of staying for 18 months. I was asked two weeks ago if I would extend my contract till April 2011 however, despite having a great time down here I have committments to my customers and family back and home so decline the offer. That is not to say that I will not be offered the job next year for 18 months…